Sitagliptin alleviated myocardial remodeling of the left ventricle and improved cardiac diastolic dysfunction in diabetic rats

ObjectiveSitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-Ⅳ) inhibitor, has a biological role in improving the serum levels of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). Hence, we sought to determine the effect of sitagliptin on myocardial inflammation, collagen metabolism, lipid content and myocardial apoptosis in diabetic rats.Materials and methodsThe type 2 diabetic rat model was induced by low-dose streptozotocin and a high-fat diet. Characteristics of diabetic rats were evaluated by electrocardiography, echocardiography and blood analysis. Cardiac inflammation, fibrosis, cardiomyocyte density, lipid accumulation, and receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIP3) level, related to apoptosis, were detected by histopathologic analysis, RT-PCR and western blot analysis to evaluate the effects of sitagliptin on myocardial remodeling of the left ventricle.ResultsDiabetic rats showed myocardial hypertrophy or apoptosis, inflammation, lipid accumulation, myocardial fibrosis, elevated collagen content, RIP3 overexpression, and left-ventricular dysfunction. Sitagliptin could reverse the overexpression of RIP3 and alleviate cellular apoptosis in myocardial tissues. It could significantly improve left-ventricular systolic pressure and +dp/dt max, reduce the E/E′ ratio, left ventricular end diastolic pressure, −dp/dt max and Tau in diabetic rats.ConclusionsSitagliptin might have a myocardial protective effect by inhibiting apoptosis, inflammation, lipid accumulation and myocardial fibrosis in diabetic rats, for a potential role in improving left-ventricular function in diabetes.